Letter From The Founder
Last month we urged you to touch grass, and this month we do much the same as we delve into the pertinent (or if you’re more cynical- the obvious) topic of summer.
I’m sure long time readers expected this as talking about the real world and creating art that isn’t just about the current online Discourse™️ is our whole modus operandi. (In fact I am currently scheming on how to make this whole STSC project more physical, more real, and less dependent on the ephemeral/fake world of screens and Notes and emails and all the rest of it. More on this in future issues)
So for this Summer issue we bring you essays, fiction and paintings. We bring you recipes, reminiscences and reflections. We bring you swim team shenanigans, post burnout tarot and fake mermaids for cabinets of curiosity.
We’ve got a little bit of everything, then, the same as we do every month. Maybe Tamara Alekseevna would approve, maybe she wouldn’t. But to find out, and to find out who on earth Tamara Alekseevna is you are going to have to read on.
Enjoy.
P.S. This time, we offer a free epub download for your most pleasurable reading.
Essays
The bard of small things by Ana
As I have said many times before and will surely continue to say many times more,Ana Bosch above all else gets it. This essay, like so many others, is a sanctuary for those who suspect there is more to life than just working and buying and striving after things. Read it and you’ll see what I mean.
Summer is the explosion of fruit while caterpillars are the explosion of juice by Trilety
Title of the Month goes to Trilety Wade here. She’s always in the running, as you may well have noticed. This is an absolutely lovely piece and the bonus salsa recipe looks like a banger as well.
Summer Broken by Dane
When the going gets tough, the tough get meta. Or at least that’s Dane Benko’s approach here as he delves into a heat wave ruining a film about a heat wave, post burnout tarot cards and coming to terms with the last summer of his thirties. I think this is an exceptional piece of work crafted under trying circumstances. Impressive.
Touch Unicorn horn by Mike K
The kids are alright. And so, if Mike Kueker is anything to go by, are the parents. Always nice to see people walking the walk and leading by example. Lovely.
Summer by Terry
Terry Freedman is back, baby! Not that he ever went away, as he is as prolific and consistent as they come. But you know what I mean. Anyway this essay is of course excellent whether you are a cruciverbalist or not.
How I Spent My Summer (essay) by Vanya
Oleg sums up Vanya Bagaev ‘s latest in a three word comment. ‘Brings back trauma.’ I know what he means. School does a number on so many of us, but try as they might they couldn’t suppress Vanya’s literary talent it seems.
Cloudberries by Minna
I’ve never heard of cloudberries either. But Minna has made me realise that I must try them immediately. The pancake recipe here looks amazing. Worth trekking to Lappland for I would say.
Baseball by Tony
Baseball, you say? Written by Tony ? Say no more. This is a vintage Tony take on vintage Tony subject matter. Pure Americana, as refreshing as an oversized beer n a stupidly humid game day.
Fathoming Melons: Inside Cantaloup and Honeydew by Samantha
Samantha Mozart is not the only one who thought of food when it came to writing on the summer theme (perhaps ‘food’ could be a future Symposium topic?). So what we have here is part love letter, part practical guide on the humble melon. And of course there is a recipe. You could turn this Symposium into a real feast. And naturally the writing is great too. Bon appetite.
Fiction
Cucumber season by Oleg
Oleg draws you in straight away with what seems like a fairly normal start. And then it all gets weird in the best way. Before reading this I had never heard of ‘Cucumber Season’ as an expression and now I will never forget it. This is the power of a good story.
Summer Shredding by Clint
Hendrix shreds away in the latest- and once again defiantly, emphatically A.I. free- story from the prolific, genre bending Clintavo
Donna Summer & The Dancing Boys by Matthew
Matthew Martin got this in just under the wire. But I’m more than happy to give a bit of latitude for someone who submits typewritten bangers such as this. I feel love, you might say.
Illustrations
Summer Swim Team by Jeanne
Jeanne S the artist is back. You love to see it. Eat my bubbles, losers!
So that was the STSC Summer Symposium. Be sure to join us on the first Sunday of next month for the next one, which may very well be on the topic of Connection. Who knows?
As always I will end here by noting our eternally grateful for all of the support this project receives. We appreciate the time that people take to read our work, and to share it and comment on it. It is never taken for granted.
And of course we are immensely thankful for all of the contributors and for those who help keep the STSC going via their kind support. Over the coming months we are going to really get into the logistics of how to take this thing further and further offline and more into the real world.
Cheers.
TJB.
Physical symposiums sound great! Sign me up!
Thanks for kind words, Tom :-)